Crutch



G. G. EIDMAN CRUTCH Y Filed May l0, 19413 3mm cfm, fi I @www Patented Oct. 2l, 1947 UNI STATES PATENT OFFICE A 4 Claims.

The invention relates to a simple economical light weight crutch of the adjustable type.

The conventional type of wooden crutch is not adjustable and diierent length and strength crutches must be provided which compels one selling such crutches to maintain a considerable stock involving various sizes, lengths and weights of crutch.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a light weight eiiicient crutch which is adjustable so that it can be utilized in lieu of the various sizes and weights of crutches now being sold. I

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an adjustable length crutch wherein the handle member and support head are also adjustable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crutch made up of a tubular body and a tubular base which are telescopically arranged for adjustment as to length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a particular support head for crutches which is capable of a cushioned rocking movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable handle for crutches which can be positioned at diiierent points along the crutch to provide for convenient use of the crutch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a curved foot piece for crutches so as to provide a secure contact for the crutch as it is tilted during use.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a crutch embodying the invention and showing certain parts in section.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation looking at the side of the crutch of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 2 4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the arrangement of the handle.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the sleeve to show the manner of fastening the handle to the crutch.

In Fig. 1 the crutch is shown as including a body portion 2 which is shown as a construction made up of a tubular member which may be a thin high grade steel or aluminum tubing or it may be made of a suitable plastic material. This body 2 is shown as hollow in Fig. 1 and telescopically receiving the base 3 which is also shown as a tubular member, but of slightly less diameter than the body 2 and arranged to slip into the body 2 as shown by the telescoped portions at 4 in the lowest part of Fig. 1. This base piece may or may not be a tubular member and could be a solid wooden shaft, but is preierably'made of a light weight tubing.

The body 2 and the base 3 are each provided with a plurality of sets of openings 5 which are alignable with each other so that a fastening means 6 may be passed therethrough in order to x the two parts in any adjusted or set position.

In order to use the crutch a handle assembly 8 is shown as including a short sleeve 9 which telescopes over the body 2 and is of a suii'icient length to give a suitable bearing area so as to support any weight applied to the crutch through the handle. The grip member I il is carried by the ends II of the side pieces I2, which may be a single strap of metal fitted around the sleeve 9 and xed thereto at I 3. The sides I2 are bowed to provide space for gripping the handle portion.

The sleeve 9 is adjustably positioned on the body 2 and has a set screw I6 threaded therein to engage a friction plate Il disposed within the sleeve 9 so as to bear against the surface of the bod,7 2. In this manner the handle can be adjusted along the body 2 as desired and can be aixed in any such adjusted position.

'I'he base 3 has a foot piece 2U thereon which is formed with a shank 2| fitted into the tubular base 3 and affixed therein with a screw 22. This shank has a cross piece or extension 23 which projects front and back of the crutch and has the resilient body 24 molded or otherwise secured thereto. This resilient material has a, curved lower face 25 to permit a secure contact with the surface as the crutch rocks over during use. If desired, this face 25 may have the ribbed portions 26 thereon to further obtain a secure footing. The elongated nature of this foot piece tends to cushion the use of the crutch.

The body 2 has a attened area 30 thereon at its upper end so as to provide the rectangular conguration 3l best seen in Fig. 3. This configuration is provided in order to support the head 32 of the crutch, which head is made up of a cross piece 33, the pad 313 and the downwardly extending side pieces or flanges 35. Each ange has a slot 35 therein which is arranged to receive a cross pin 3l extending through the portion 30 of the body. This arrangement permits a slight vertical movement of the head relative to the crutch body. A support plate 38 is arranged in the upper end 30 of the crutch body and serves as a support for the coil springs 39, one of which is disposed in the portion 30 on each side of the pin 31. These springs bear against the cross piece 33 so as to permit a rocking movement of the head relative to the crutch so that when the Weight of the user is applied to the head there will be some cushioning action due to the provisions of the springs and the rocking movement of the head.

It seems obvious from the foregoing description that the maximum cushioning action is obtained while permitting adjustment of the crutch construction and the invention therefore broadly contemplates an adjustable cushioned type of crutch.

What is claimed is:

1. In a crutch construction, a head comprising a cross piece, a pad thereon, a pair of spaced downwardly extending side flanges on said cross piece, a crutch body of tubular material having' its upper end flattened to t between said anges, a cross pin in said upper end to support said head, a slot in each iiange to slidably receive said pin to facilitate loose play rocking movement of the head, and a spring on each side of said pin and confined by said support and cross piece to cushion said rocking of said head.

2. In a crutch construction a tubular base member, a foot piece, a shank on said piece extending into said member, means to affix the shank and member together, a lateral extension on said shank, a resilient body enclosing said extension and projecting front and back oi' said shank, and a curved lower contact face on said body so as to obtain a secure contact for the crutch as it is tilted in use.

3. In a crutch of tubular construction, a handle, means to support and adjust the handle relative to the tubular construction including a sleeve slidable along the construction, a set screw in said sleeve, a friction plate movable by said screw to seat against said tubular construction to adjustably hx said handle.

4. In a crutch of tubular construction, a handle, means to support and adjust the handle relative to the tubular construction including a sleeve slidable along the construction, a set screw in said sleeve, a friction plate movable by said screw to seat against said tubular construction to adjustably fix said handle, said handle including a grip member and side pieces connected to the end thereof and to said sleeve to support the grip in a lateral position relative to the tubular construction.

GUY G, EIDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ol this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,116,730 Menton May 10, 1938 1,459,333 Hipwood June 19, 1923 467,675 McGrain Jan. 2.6, 1892 1,137,063 Kinderman Apr. 27, 1915 1,340,617 Lynde Feb. 22, 1921 1,369,580 Uchytl Feb. 22, 1921 1,438,883 Youngren Dec. 12, 1922 

